Four new Professor Emeritus announced

Massey University is proud to announce four new Professor Emeritus conferred by the Honorary Awards Committee.

Professor Doug Armstrong, Professor Murray Cox, Professor Angela Farrow and Professor Kathryn Mary Stowell are awarded emeritus titles in recognition of their service to the university.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas acknowledges the significant contributions they have made to the university, and their research areas.

“I would like to congratulate each of them on this prestigious honour. Every one of these academics has made meaningful and significant contributions to the university, and Aotearoa New Zealand, and I’m proud that we have them among our ranks.”

The title of Professor Emeritus/Emerita is conferred on members of the professoriate upon retirement, who are recognised nationally as having been outstanding in their discipline and who have made an outstanding contribution to scholarship or the university, or both. They often maintain a continuing association with the university through, for example, short term contracts, research contracts, supervision of PhD students, mentorship, and advice.

Professor Emeritus Doug Armstrong - School of Natural Sciences

Professor Doug Armstrong has made significant and continuous contributions to his discipline of conservation biology and is highly regarded by his peers. In his career he has received several awards such as Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi 2021, Te Tohu Taiao Award for Ecology Excellence 2021, and the Australasian Wildlife Management Society Practitioners Award to Hihi Recovery Group 2013.

Professor Armstrong leads a world-renowned research programme in population ecology, reintroduction biology and effects of habitat fragmentation. He has strong research skills in population monitoring, mark-recapture analysis and population modelling.

He has peer reviewed 160 papers in conservation biology, wildlife management, and evolutionary ecology, and edited two books on reintroduction biology, leading to almost 9400 citations.

Professor Armstrong has supervised 62 postgraduate students; many whom have made outstanding contributions to research and conservation management.

Head of the School of Natural Sciences Professor Jamie Quinton says since Professor Armstrong’s appointment to Lecturer in 1993, his incredible career has positively impacted both the environment and wildlife that he has dedicated his life to study, and an immense number of students and colleagues.

“His career efforts indicated by his publication record have led to significant knowledge that has not only contributed to but shaped the field of evolutionary ecology. The leadership, collegiality, and continuing influence that Doug provides in conservation biology will remain highly valued in the School of Natural Sciences.”

Professor Armstrong retired in June this year.

Professor Emeritus Murray Cox - School of Natural Sciences

Professor Murray Cox is one of the world’s leading authorities in computational biology and is widely known for his innovative development of new analytical and computational tools to extract biological information from enormous DNA datasets.

His research leadership stems from advances in population genetics, statistics, and computer science, coupled with a deep understanding of biological systems. His hugely influential scientific discoveries are routinely published in the world’s top journals, and his findings frequently capture global media attention.

Professor Cox’s research has attracted significant international attention. In 2016, the Association of Commonwealth Universities awarded him its flagship award, the Titular Fellowship, which he held as a senior fellow at St John’s College at Oxford University. In 2017, he was made a Fellow of the Humboldt Foundation, with the Max Planck Society hosting him at the Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany. In 2019, the University of Melbourne awarded him its Miegunyah Distinguished Visiting Fellowship, the first New Zealander to be awarded this distinction.

Professor Cox has held more than 60 grants, totalling more than $12m. The Royal Society Te Apārangi awarded him the Te Rangi Hīroa Medal in 2018, and he received the Massey Research Medal (Individual) in 2020. Earlier this year, Professor Cox was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi.

He has published more than 150 books and papers, many appearing in the world’s top journals.

“Murray’s development of new analytical and computational tools to extract biological information from enormous DNA datasets has established an expertise and international reputation that is continually sought by researchers around the globe. In addition to his research achievements, he was Deputy Head of the former School of Fundamental Sciences and is also held in high regard as an outstanding teacher. His generous mentorship from the most junior of students through to senior members of staff continues to raise Massey’s reputation and standing in international education and research. His Emeritus status is most thoroughly deserved,” Professor Quinton adds.

Professor Cox is retiring from Massey in December 2022.

Professor Emerita Angela Farrow - School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication

Professor Angela Farrow has made significant contributions in playwriting, community theatre, arts education and creative entrepreneurship. She has been writing plays since she was an undergraduate in the United Kingdom, where she won the coveted Sunday Times Student Playwriting Award and had a West End production with her first play, The Blue One.

Professor Farrow has written more than 50 plays in a range of genres, and her life’s work boasts of consistent and broad ranging series of performances, broadcasts and staged readings from 1974 to present.

Since her retirement, Professor Farrow has continued to support theatre development by creating new works, convening writing workshops, acting as a dramaturg (literary adviser or editor) for developing writings and most recently for Tahi Tupu – New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance. She is eager to continue to actively contribute to Massey University with mentoring theatre staff, appearing in guest lectures, presenting at research seminars and providing expert advice when needed.

Head of the School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication Professor Kerry Taylor says, “Professor Farrow has been a tireless advocate for her subject area and its relevance to the broader community. It is always pleasing to see the contribution of Humanities scholars recognised.”

Professor Farrow retired from Massey in August this year.

Professor Emerita Kathryn Mary Stowell - School of Natural Sciences

Professor Kathryn Mary Stowell was a leader for Biochemistry for more than 20 years, and a leader of the discipline on various boards and committees worldwide to guide, assess and support the area of research. These include the Palmerston North Medical Research Foundation, New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, editor of NZ bioScience journal, Royal Society Te Apārangi selection committee reviewer, European Malignant Hyperthermia Executive Committee and the Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptibility Variant Curation Expert Panel (USA).

Professor Stowell is renowned for her dedication to major curricula changes in the first year Biochemistry for Veterinary Science programme. These changes and her passion for teaching earned student respect, and in 2019 she was awarded best teacher at 100-level in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science programme. In 2020, she was recognised by her veterinary teaching colleagues and was the recipient of a special award for meritorious achievement in 100-level biochemistry.

One of the highlights of Professor Stowell’s career was the establishment of a postgraduate course in research methods in 1995. This course has gone from strength to strength and is still offered today as a compulsory course in the Master of Science.

Professor Quinton says Professor Stowell’s career in biochemistry is exemplary, in particular her life-long focus on the molecular genetics on malignant hyperthermia, a rare condition that can lead to loss of life during anaesthetic procedures, but is present in some Māori communities in the lower half of the North Island.

“Professor Stowell’s pioneering work with Palmerston North Hospital has led to pathology discoveries and diagnostic techniques that are now adopted internationally. Her life-long commitment to research excellence and the training of outstanding Massey graduates are well-recognised through her Emeritus award.”

Professor Stowell retired in December 2020.